Walls Have Ears

A couple of days passed with no more visits from Taran. To say the princess was relieved would be an understatement. Part of her felt guilty and selfish for wanting the other scientist to stay away, but she refused to ask where he was.

Then one afternoon, Dania set down her pen and sighed. "I do not think you are getting the best experience with me. There are so many talented people in this University, and you are getting a very narrow picture by only monitoring my work."

Mairwen's jaw dropped. "Monitoring? I thought we were collaborating. I had planned to look in on other people, but we have been getting along so well that I…"

Uncharacteristically, Dania cut her off. "Good. The other scholars deserve your attention too. If it pleases Your Highness, I think you should move on as soon as possible. I know you will be as invaluable to them as you have been to me."

The princess bristled. It seemed she was suddenly no longer wanted. What had she done wrong? "I will finish out the day and move my things out in the morning."

"Of course, Your Highness," Dania curtsied formally from her work table, further distancing her from her friend.

At least, Mairwen had thought they were friends. This sudden change in attitude made her question even that.

"If I did something to offend you, please tell me." The blue-eyed woman pleaded. She shot a glance at Eira, who stood by the door. The woman remained expressionless, but gave a small shrug to indicate that she had no idea what was happening either.

Dania shook her head, her face solemn. "No, you have been wonderful. Better than I could ever have hoped." Her mood ring eyes turned a shade of bluish grey. "But all good things must come to an end."

"I see," Mairwen said, but she clearly did not. "Dania…"

"Please do not ask me any more. I must focus." The brunette answered brusquely.

The princess clamped her mouth shut, her feelings hurt. The courtiers and nobility were occasionally catty, but they were never harsh. Mairwen knew in her head that more must be going on, but her pride would not let her delve any further. She stared quietly at her paper, and copied her notes like the assistant she claimed to be.

When Renat came to accompany the princess back to the palace that evening, he was surprised to find that there was no laughter or joy in the laboratory.

"Did someone die?" he gave a silly grin, which quickly faded when the three females all glared at him. "Wait, did someone die?!"

Mairwen packed up her things and placed them in a satchel. She handed it into Eira's waiting hand. "I will be back to collect anything I forgot in the morning."

"Very good, Your Highness. Thank you," Dania looked up for a moment, but would not meet the woman's eye.

With all the grace of a slighted noblewoman, Mairwen swept out of the room, missing the final words of the female scientist. "Thank you for everything."

Catching up to her, Renat's face was visibly perturbed. "What happened?" he asked.

"I have no idea. Dania insisted I move on to 'monitor' other scientists' work..." Mairwen stared determinedly forward, trying not to let the hot tears that filled her eyes fall down her cheeks.

"Did she really say monitor? That doesn't sound right." Renat scratched the back of his head. Dania was often firm with her male colleagues, but he had never seen her be rude.

"Well, she did, just ask Eira…" the princess pressed her lips together and hurried her step.

The tall man caught up with her and took her hand. "Whoa, slow down, my love. There is some misunderstanding. I see how close your two have become. I am sure you will work it out in the morning."

As Renat had stopped her forward progress, Mairwen paced the width of the hall a few times. "You know what? This is silly! I can't let it rest like this. Better to have it all out in the open, or I'll never be able to sleep. I will be right back. Both of you, wait here!"

Before Eira or Renat could react, Mairwen went running back down the hall. She knew the other two would ignore and follow her, so the princess hoped to get a moment alone with Dania before the others caught up.

The lamps in the hall had already been lowered for the evening, and the low light left the empty hall shrouded in shadows. Marching into the laboratory, the blue-eyed woman jumped into her impassioned speech. "Dania, I refuse to let there be this wall between us! Even if I still move on I want to clear the air..." Mairwen stopped as she realized that she was talking to only air.

The room was empty. It had not been that long since she left the female scientist. Dania had not passed them in the hall, which could only mean she had exited down the other end of the passage. Undeterred by the steps of her companions behind her, Mairwen slipped out of the room and hurried away from them down the corridor.

Her delicate footsteps barely made a sound on the stone floor as she strained her eyes and ears to find the brilliant brunette. Less than a minute later, she heard rushed whispers through a cracked door. In general, the doors of the scholar's offices were only closed at night to protect the knowledge stored inside. It was possible that the people inside had meant to shut the door for privacy, but for some reason, did not complete the job.

Recognizing the office as that of Sir Taran, Mairwen immediately began to eavesdrop. The two occupants inside were quarreling.

"I sent her away," Dania's whisper was strained. "But I think we should come clean. Hiding this from everyone will only come back to hurt us in the end."

"Patience, dear Dania. Our plans are too important to be discovered early. You did the right thing. We will reveal everything at the right time." Taran's voice was firm but persuasive.

"But when is the right time? How much more has to happen? We cannot go on like this forever." The woman was not convinced. There was a small crash. "Don't do that!" she said sharply. Whatever he had done, it had caused Dania to back up and bump into something, probably a table.

"You know how much I care about you and your whole family. I don't want anything to happen to any of you." Taran's words reminded the princess of a beautiful snake. They sounded good, but there was a venemous threat beneath them.

"I appreciate all you do," Dania's tone softened considerably. The princess guessed that the woman had conceded to whatever affection Taran had wanted, because it was silent for a moment. "But I still don't like the secrecy," she said at last.

There was another bump within the office as Taran growled. "Do not try me in this! It is the only way. You will see, my dear."

"I disagree. I think--" her voice was caught in a small yelp as Taran whispered something so softly in her ear that Mairwen couldn't hear it.

Dania cried out. The princess registered her running toward the door and pulled back into the shadows just in time for the door to be thrown wide while the brunette made a hasty escape. As she fled, Dania did not see the blue-eyed woman trace her steps with a look of genuine concern.

Moving forward to follow her friend, Mairwen was caught roughly by the arm. She turned and came face to face with a wild-eyed Sir Taran, who quickly released her.

"My apologies, Your Highness. I thought you were a spy." The man's bearded face seemed to transform back to normal as he gave a slight bow. "I am sorry if you overheard our quarrel. Lovers can be so passionate when they don't agree on something." He smiled broadly. "Don't worry. We will work it out. We always do."

Taran's words made the princess's skin crawl, and his step into her personal space did not help her comfort level.

"How much did Her Highness hear?" he wondered aloud.

"Not much," Mairwen answered honestly. She stood her ground despite every part of her body telling her to run just like Dania had. Although the man's face seemed friendly enough, his eyes told a very different, very dangerous story. "I am worried for Dania though; I don't want anything to happen to her."

"I will take good care of Dania. Do not worry. I was grieved to hear that you had a falling out. I am sure she will come back to you when the time is right." The third son Baron Gauss placed all of his charm in his words, but the princess could see he was asserting his control over the woman, and by extension herself as well.

"We will discuss this further tomorrow, Sir Taran." Mairwen took a step backward out of the man's reach and dipped her head. His presence was becoming oppressive. Taran clicked his heels and with a curt nod, returned to his office.

"Mairwen! You scared me." Renat hugged his wife as she came back down the passage toward them. He looked at her face. "What happened?"

The princess rubbed her forehead. "It seems I will not sleep tonight. I could not talk to Dania. In fact I stumbled upon something else entirely." She pulled on her husband's arm and motioned for Eira to follow. "I will explain in the carriage. Around here, even the walls can have ears."